Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing volatile contaminants from scrap metal is disclosed. The process is carried out in a furnace maintained at a relatively constant temperature and having a first zone in which volatiles contained on the surface of the metal are vaporized and a second zone in which carbon contained on the surface of the metal is pyrolyzed. The furnace also has a conveyor for transporting metal therethrough at a specific speed to ensure complete vaporization and pyrolysis of the contaminants. The process includes the steps of sufficiently vaporizing the volatiles without oxidizing the metal, the vaporizing producing fumes containing unburned hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon fumes are then burned to produce hot gas which is recirculated to the furnace. The hot gas contacts the incoming metal and vaporizes the volatiles contained thereon.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for removing volatile contaminants from scrap metal. The process is carried out in a furnace maintained at a relatively constant temperature having a first zone in which volatiles contained on the surface of the metal are vaporized and a second zone in which carbon contained on the surface of the metal is pyrolyzed. The furnace also has a vibrating conveyor for transporting metal therethrough at a specific speed. The process includes the step of vaporizing and fluidizing the volatiles to produce fumes containing unburned hydrocarbons without oxidizing the metal. The hydrocarbon fumes are then burned to produce hot gas which is recirculated to the furnace so as to contact new incoming scrap metal.

Abstract: A batch-type pyrolysis furnace fired by a main heat source such as a gas burner or an electric heating coil in combination with an afterburner to burn volatiles generated in the furnace's main chamber, is operated to incinerate high-polymer loads smokelessly, yet is effectively safeguarded from explosions. A single thermocouple (zone TC) senses the instantaneous temperature in a critical sensitive zone (CSZ) of the furnace and in cooperation with a programmable controller (PC), maintains a preselected ramp and soak temperature profile over the entire burn cycle. The CSZ has been found to be within about 1' (foot) from the upper edge of the throat, and not lower than about 6" (inches) from the ceiling of the main chamber. When the temperature required by the profile is exceeded, a single water spray actuated by a signal from the PC lowers the temperature below the profile.

Abstract: A batch-type pyrolysis furnace fired by a main heat source such as a gas burner or an electric heating coil in combination with an afterburner to burn volatiles generated in the furnace's main chamber, is operated to incinerate high-polymer loads smokelessy, yet is effectively safeguarded from explosions. A single thermocouple (throat TC) senses the instantaneous temperature in the throat of the furnace and in cooperation with a programmable controller, maintains a preselected ramp and soak temperature profile over the entire burn cycle. When the temperature required by the profile is exceeded, a single water spray actuated by a signal from the PC lowers the temperature below the profile. The throat TC thus maintains a fire under controlled temperature conditions in the main chamber without an explosion, using a single-stage system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of treating oil field wastes and particularly spent drilling fluids which contain barite and hydrocarbons which includes placing the drilling fluids into the upper end of a downwardly directed rotating kiln. Fuel and pressurized air are inserted into a furnace connected to the upper end of the kiln for supplying a fire to the drilling fluids in the kiln for igniting and burning the hydrocarbons in the drilling fluids as fuel until the drilling fluid is dry. Entrained particulates in the gas stream leaving the kiln are separated in a cyclone separator. The gases leaving the cyclone separator are passed through a secondary combustion unit to assure complete combustion of pyrolized carbonaceous residuals in the gas stream. The gases are then cooled in a heat exchanger and sent to a hydrosonic scrubber which removes the remaining particulates as well as oxides of sulfur.

Abstract: In order to create a technically more effective and more economical method of decontamination by which complete decomposition of all injurious substances is obtained in simple fashion, it is proposed, in connection with a method and a plant for the treatment of contaminated soils, that the drying can be combined in a mill passed through by hot gases with a crushing of the material to a particle size of 0 to 10 mm, that after the drying the material, together with the gaseous phase, be treated in the form of a solid/gas dispersion in a heating and decontamination path with burner, with a temperature within the range of 800.degree. C. to 1200.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of removing hazardous flammable hydrocarbons from soils comprises introducing the contaminated soil into a rotatable drum open at only one end, introducing flame and hot gases of combustion in the drum while rotating it to substantially expose the soil to the hot gases thereby heating the soil to a temperature sufficient to substantially vaporize all of the contaminant flammable hydrocarbons therein, and continuing to introduce the flame and hot gases whereby the vaporized hydrocarbon is burned in the drum with the exhaust gases of combustion then directed to atmosphere from the open port. The uncontaminated soil is then recovered from the drum.

Abstract: Volatile matter especially solvents is recovered from waste material using a hot granular material such as sand, as a heat carrier to drive off the solvents, and as a carrier for the non-volatile resin content of the waste; the resins are thermally decomposed in reactions which provide heat to maintain the granular material hot and the granular material is continuously circulated; the exhaust gases from the thermal decomposition of the resins can be used as a source of heat outside the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detoxifying soil particles containing low melting point mineral compounds contaminated with combustible toxic materials wherein the soil particles are located without melting the low melting point mineral compounds to form combusted solids and a mixture of mineral dust and toxic material containing gas, the combusted solids are separated from the dust-gas mixture, the dust gas mixture is thereafter separated into the mineral dust and the toxic material-containing gas, and the toxic material-containing gas is then combusted at high temperature to form less harmful combustion products. The low melting point mineral compounds may be those mineral compounds of oxygen, silicon, calcium, iron and aluminum, and certain metal and metal oxides. The combustible toxic materials may be dioxin and PCB.

Abstract: A thermal decomposition reactor accepts solid, liquid or gaseous waste products of industrial processes or the like and rapidly reduces same to substances such as carbon dioxide, water and glassified non-leachable ash without limitation by materials that may be commonly included in such waste.

Abstract: A sealed, negative pressurized, high temperature furnace, through which hydrocarbon contaminated soil is conveyed, is operated in the near-infrared heating region at radiation wavelengths between about 0.75 and about 3.0 um. The furnace, rotary sealed at the input and exit ports and maintained at a negative pressure, is in the form of an elongated cylinder, divided into four series-arranged heating zones, each of which is separately fed by a preferably stoichiometric mixture of a combustible gas, preferably propane and air. The flow of the gas/air mixture into each of the heating zones is regulated so that the first zone is maintained at about 2900.degree. F. normally, (3000.degree. F. maximum), the second zone is maintained at about 2900.degree. F. normally, and the third and fourth heating zones are maintained at about 2900.degree. F. normally.

Abstract: A batch-type pyrolysis furnace fired by a main gas burner and an afterburner, is effectively safeguarded from explosions and runaway fires due to an undue build-up of flammable vapors within its main chamber, by the simple expedient of maintaining a fire under controlled temperature conditions in the main chamber. This is done by a dual-stage control system requiring three thermocouples, one (first) in the main chamber, a second in the exhaust stack downstream of the afterburner, and a third upstream of the afterburner in the vent passage ("throat") connecting the main chamber with the afterburner chamber. The first thermocouple in the main chamber senses the ambient, essentially instantaneous temperature at that location. The effectiveness of the control system, in large measure, derives from the unexpected difference in temperatures sensed by the first and third thermocouples.

Abstract: A method of cleaning contaminated soil which achieves very low levels of residual impurities and does not produce contaminated residues is characterized by the steps of, (a) feeding the contaminated soil to a combustion space (6) of a fluidized bed furnace (4) having, at the underside of said combustion space, a structure (5) for air distribution, (b) forming a fluidized bed of the contaminated soil above said air distribution structure (5) in the combustion space by means of combustion air delivered under elevated pressure via the air distribution structure, and (c) mainly or completely burning the impurities from the soil in the combustion space (6), to provide cleaned soil. Preferably the air distribution structure (5) comprises a generally horizontal grid (7) of pipes having air distribution nozzles with gaps between the pipes, coarse soil particles passing through said gaps into a collection space (13) from the combustion space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of treating oil field wastes and particularly spent drilling fluids which contain barite and hydrocarbons which includes placing the drilling fluids into the upper end of a downwardly directed rotating kiln. Fuel and pressurized air are inserted into a furnace connected to the upper end of the kiln for supplying a fire to the drilling fluids in the kiln for igniting and burning the hydrocarbons in the drilling fluids as fuel until the drilling fluid is dry. The high weight impurities are separated from the dried drilling fluid by gravity from the kiln and the light weight fines and more valuable components including the barite are removed from the kiln by suction. The more valuable components are mixed with new components for providing a recycled drilling fluid. The gases separated from the light weight dry drilling fluids are washed to remove any pollutants before exhaustion to the atmosphere. The particulates cleaned from the gases may be recycled to the kiln.

Abstract: The burner apparatus of the instant invention includes a forced air gas burner which directs a hot gas stream over an object to be cleaned in a burning chamber. The burning chamber includes a burner pipe for evenly distributing the gas stream throughout the chamber. An object-carrying basket is removably mounted in the chamber. A pollutant reduction chamber is connected to a burning chamber outlet and is constructed to reduce the content of pollutants in the gas stream which is subsequently released into the atomosphere.

Abstract: A system for treating solid, granular and aggregate material thermally including a storage silo containing a supply of the material to be thermally treated. A combination thermal reclaimer and heat exchanger apparatus is connected in fluid flow relation to the storage silo for receiving material therefrom. The combination thermal reclaimer and heat exchanger apparatus is operative to both effect a preheating of material received thereby and to accomplish a thermal reclamation of the material received thereby as the material completes its passage through the combination thermal reclaimer and heat exchanger apparatus. A feeder device is cooperatively associated with the combination thermal reclaimer and heat exchanger means for receiving thermally reclaimed material therefrom. The feeder device has a transporter pipe cooperatively associated therewith into which thermally reclaimed material is fed. The transporter pipe is operative for transporting the thermally reclaimed material to a material storage device.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method of controlling temperatures within a cleaning or reclamation furnace which is normally used to reclaim metal parts contaminated with combustible materials by pyrolyzing the combustible materials. A reclamation furnace usually includes a primary heat-input burner employed to heat the contaminated parts in the primary heating chamber, an afterburner chamber contained within the heating chamber having a secondary burner to burn volatile gases which are given off by the combustible materials as the parts are heated, and two separately-controlled automatic valve and spray nozzle assemblies connected to the primary heating chamber. Each nozzle assembly is connected to a pressurized water source to deliver a water-spray injection into the heating chamber.

Abstract: Procedure to obtain incineration of waste material without producing smoke; it consists in causing carbonization, distillation and combustion of the material to be destroyed by the effect of the heat transferred to it by a pre-heated red hot steel plate apt to move in top to bottom direction by the force of gravity; the furnace implementing the procedure comprises a truncated cylinder shaped hollow steel body, the bottom part of which is provided with a hearth surmounted by a circular plate heated red hot and sustained by an axially slidable tubular element.

Abstract: Plastic residues in mixing apparatuses and molding tools filled from these are removed by a method in which the said residues are vaporized by heating.

Abstract: A combustion flue gas stream containing dioxins, some of which are in the vapor phase, is cooled to between 100.degree. C. and 110.degree. C. The dioxins in the vapor phase are converted to suspended particulates which are subsequently captured and then thermally destroyed.

Abstract: A system (10) particularly suited for reclaming used foundry sand by means of thermal reclamation. The subject system (10) includes, arranged in cooperatively associated series relation, thermal reclaimer means (14), post reclaimer means (15), primary cooling means (16), separator means (18), classifying and dust removal means (19), scrubber means (20) and secondary cooling means (22). The used sand, which preferably is first fed through a lump-crusher, shake-out apparatus (12), is made to pass through thermal reclaimer means (14) while being heated to a predetermined temperature for a preestablished period of time in order to accomplish the burning away of the organic materials, i.e., matter, which are present in the used sand. From the thermal reclaimer means (14), the used sand passes to and through the post reclaimer means 15 for further reclaiming and then to and through the primary cooling means (16) wherein the heated sand is cooled to a suitable temperature.

Abstract: A continuous process and system for treatment of oily waste products and heavy sludge resulting from the washing of scrap metal fragments bathed in oil. The sludge and oily waste both include a mixture of water, ferrous containing particulates and a hydrocarbon liquid. The process of this invention includes feeding the heavy sludge and oily waste into an incinerator, incinerating the hydrocarbon liquid contained therein at conditions such that the metal contained therein is recovered as particulate ash, and venting the resulting combustion gases to the atmosphere. The system of this invention includes an incinerator, an auger for transporting heavy sludge from the scrap washer to the incinerator, a pump and storage tank for feeding oily waste from the scrap wash water to the incinerator, and a baghouse for filtering the combustion gases and exhausting them to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A thermal reclaimer apparatus (14) for thermally removing from the used foundry sand the organic matter that is present therein. The subject thermal reclaimer apparatus (14) includes chamber means (26) in which the used foundry sand is heated to a predetermined temperature for a preestablished period in order to accomplish the burning away of the organic matter that the used foundry sand contains. The chamber means (26) includes inlet means (32) provided at one end thereof and outlet means (50) provided at the other end thereof. Feed means (34) are cooperatively associated with the pipe means (36) and thereby with the inlet means (32) for feeding the used foundry sand through the inlet means (32) into the chamber means (26). The subject thermal reclaimer apparatus (14) further includes rotating means (44) operative for effecting the rotation of the chamber means (26) as the used foundry sand is being heated therein.

Abstract: A low-cost energy-conserving system for heating and cooling the equipment and environment of a manufacturing installation, and more particularly, a printing plant, including an incinerator for burning waste paper generated as a result of the printing process, a first heat exchanger for utilizing exhaust gases from the incinerator for heating air to be supplied to a heat treating device or apparatus, and more particularly, a web press oven, first ductwork for conducting heated air from the first heat exchanger to the web press oven for heating purposes, second ductwork for conducting solvent-laden air from the web press oven to the incinerator where the solvents are burned to utilize their heating value and to also produce pollution-free gases, a second heat exchanger utilizing exhaust gases from the incinerator for heating air to be provided to the plant for environmental heating purposes, an outside air duct for providing air to be heated by the second heat exchanger, third ductwork for conducting heated air

Abstract: Oxidizable liquid organic chemical residues are removed from large vessels by a non-catalytic method comprising:a. heating the vessel by introducing a heat source and oxygen into the interior of the vessel, the emitted heat being sufficient to volatilize substantially all and decompose at least a portion of said oxidizable liquid organic chemical contaminating the interior of said vessel;b. exhausting from the vessel combustion gas resulting from the volatilization and decomposition of the liquid organic chemical during the heating step;c. filtering particulates from the combustion gas and decomposing with heat any volatilized organic chemical remaining in the combustion gas exhausted from the vessel; andd. venting to the atmosphere combustion gas essentially free of said particulates and oxidizable organic chemical.

Abstract: A smoke control device for use in motor vehicle incineration. Smoke from burning vehicles in an incineration area is directed into a collecting chamber by controlled air flows and flaps. Updrafts evacuate the chamber and force the smoke into a combustion stack. The column of smoke in the stack is raised to combustion temperature by heaters mounted on the stack. The superheated smoke is combined with heated air in the vicinity of an open flame causing combustion resulting in a clear stack discharge.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of removing oil from metal scrap, comprising the steps of introducing oil-laden scrap into a hermetically sealed chamber, evacuating said chamber, heating said scrap to vaporize the oil, and removing the vaporized oil from said chamber.

Abstract: An incinerator is provided with water cooled nozzles for blowing pressure air into refuse in open-topped containers, fuel burners for heating the containers from the outside, a water cooled grate and doors at the inlet and outlet of the incinerator. The containers are mounted on receiver dishes, delivered in sequence into the incinerator. Refuse is incinerated by blowing pressure air from the nozzles down into each container while heating the container at its sides. Emptied containers can be reused.

Abstract: An enclosure having an inlet and an outlet for hot air, and an inlet and an outlet for waste water, contains a plurality of refractory, porous, tubular, membrane-type filters, each of which is closed at one end and connected at its other end to the waste water outlet. Hence, waste water entering through its inlet in the enclosure must pass through the walls of the filter tubes before being discharged through its outlet. During this process, any solid particles in the water become deposited on the outer surfaces of the filter tubes. After a filtering cycle is over and the waste water has been drained through its outlet, a heating means, equipped with a blower and attached to the hot-air inlet, forces heated air into the enclosure to incinerate the solids deposited on the filter tubes. Therefore, the filter tubes serve also as refractory grates to hold the sludge while it burns. After the sludge has been burned, an automatic timer switches back to the filtering cycle.